The true northerner., 1887-12-14

il obliged, in a purchase for family use OF an
turn In the payment Of tho increase In price
which the tariff permits, the hard-earned COM
pensation OF many days OF toll.
FALSE PHILOSOPHY FOR FARMERS.
The farmer and the agriculturist who manu-
facture nothing, but who pay the Increased
price which the tariff imposes: upon every agrt,
cultural implement, upon all he wears and
upon all he uses, and owns. except the increase
OF his hocks and herds and such things as
his husbandry produce from the soil. Is invited
to aid in maintaining the present situation. and
he Is told that high duty ON imported wool 10
necessary for the benefit of those who have
sheep to shear in order that the price Of their
not reminded that the farmer who has no sheep
10 by this scheme obliged in his pur-
S pay @ tribSss S'naS to ha Ss fsow SHoSn farmer as
well as to the manufacturer and mer-
chant; nor Is any mention made of the
fact that the sheep-owners themselves anu
their households must wear clothing and use
other articles manufactured from the wool they
sell at tariff prices. and thus as consumers
must return their share Of this increased price
think it may be fairly assumed that a large
proportion Of tho sheep owned by the farmers
ilocks numbering from twenty hve 10 nifty,
The duty on the grade OF imported woOf
which these sheep yield is 10 cents each per
pound If OF the valne OF 80 cents or less, ana
AZ cents IL OF the value of moro than 30 cents. Al
the liberal estimate of six pounds be allowed
for each fleece the duty thereon would DO W or
~ cents, and this may be taken as the utmost
enhancement of its price to the farmer by
reason of this duty. Eighteen dollars would
thus represent the increased price OF the
wool from twenty-five sheep, and s36 that
from the wool of fifty sheep, and at
present values this addition would amount TO
about one-third OF its price. II, upon its sale,
the farmer receives this or a less tariff proht,
the wool leaves his hands charged with pre-
cisey that sum, which, in all its changes, will
adhere to it until it reaches the consumer
When manufactured into cloth and other goods
and material for use its cost not only increas-
cd to the extont of the farmers tariff profit, but
further sum has been added for the benefit of
the manufacturer under the operation of other
tariff laws. Ia the meantime, the day ar
rives when the farmer finds IL necessary to
purchase woolen goods and material TO clothe
himself and family for the winter. When he
faces the tradesman for that purpose he discov-
ers that he is obliged not only to return in the
way of increased prices, his tariff proft on the
wool he sold, and which then perhaps lies be-
fore him in manufactured form. but that he
must add considerable sum thereto to meet
further increase in cost caused by n tariff duty
on the manufacture. Thus in the end he Is
aroused TO the fact that he has paid upon n
moderate purchase, as result OF the tariff
scheme-which, when he sold his wool, seemed
SO prohtable-an increase in price more than
sufficient to sweep away all the tarin proht ne
received upon the wool he produced and sold.
ITS "RELENTLEss GRASP"
When the number Of farmers engaged In WOOL
raising is compared with all the farmers in the
country, and the small proportion they bear ID
our population Is considered; when it is made
apparent that, in the case OF II large part OF
those who own sheep, the benefit of the present
tar itf on wool is ilusory; and, above all, when
it must be conceded that the increase OF the
cost of living caused by such tariif becomes a
burden upon those with moderate means, and
the poor, the employed and unemployed, the
sick and well, and the young and Old, and that
it constitutes tax which, with relentless grasp,
is fastened upon the clothing OF every man,
woman and child in the land reasons are sug-
gested why the removal or reduction OF this
duty Should be included in revision OF our
tariff laws.
In speaking OF the increased cost TO the con-
sumer of our home manufactures, resulting
from n duty laid upon imported articles of the
same description, the fact is not overlooked that
competition among domestic producers
sometimes has the effect of keeping the price OF
their products below the highest liIuit allowed
by such duty. But it is notorious that this com
petition is too often strangled by combinations
called trusts, which have for their object the
regulation of the supply and price OF commodi-
ties made and sold by members OF the CON-
bination. The people can hardly hope for any
consideration in the operation OF these selfish
schemes.
tion, u healthy and free competition reduces
the price of any particular dutiable article OF
home production below the limit which 1T
might otherwise reach under our tariff laws,
and il, with such reduced price, its manufac-
tuIe continues to thrive, 1t is entirely evident
that one thing has been discovered which
should be carefully scrutinized IN an effort to
red rec taxation.
the necessity Of combination to maintain the
pie, of any commodity to the tariff point fur
mis- lies proof that some one is wiling to accept
lower prices for such commodity, and that such
prices are remunerative, and lower prices pro-
duced by competition prove the same thing.
Thus, where either of these conditions exist
would seem TO be presented for an easy re-
duction Of taxation
The considerations which have been present
ed tou 1hing our tariff laws are intended only to
enforc. an earnest recommendation that the
surplus revenue OF the Government be prevent
ed by the
and, at the same time, to emphasize suggos-
tion that in accomplishirg TINS purpose we may
discharge a double duty to our people ny grant
ing to them n measure of relief from tar II taxa
ton in quarters where it is most needed, ana
from sources where it can be most fairly and
Justly accorded.
Nor can tho presentation made OF such con-
siderat ons be, with any degree OF fairness
garded us evidences of unfriendlness toward
our manufacturing interests or of any lack OF
appreciat on OF their value and importance.
These interests const tute q leading and most
substantial element of our national greatness,
and furnish the proud proof OF our country's
pro gress. But H. in the emergency that presses
upon us, our manufacturers are asked to
surrender something for the public good
and 20 avert disaster their patriotism, IS well as
II grateful recognition of advantages already
afforded, should lead them to willing co-opera-
tion, No demand is made that they shall fore
go all the benefits of governmental regard but
they can not fail TO be admonished of their duty,
as well their enlightened sef-interest md
safety, whom they are reminded OF the fact that
ent condition tends, afford no greater shelter
protection to our man ufactures than TO our other
important enterprises Opportunity for safe,
careful md deliberate reform is now offered,
and none of US should be uninindful of q time
when
AN ABUSED AND IRRITATED PEOPLE,
Needless of those who have resisted timely and
reasonable relief, may insist upon a radical and
sweeping rectihcation of thcir wrongs.
The difficulty attending wise fair re-
vision of our tariff laws is not underestimated.
1t will require on the part Of our Congress great
labor and care, and especially broad and nat
tional contemplation of the subject, and patri-
otic disregard OF such local and selfish claims
unreasonable and reckless Of the welfare
of the eutire country
Under our present lews more than four thou
sand articles are subject to duty. Many OF
those do not in any way compete with our own
manufactures, and many are hardly worth at
tention subjects of revenue. cons iderablo
reduction can be made in the aggregate by add
ing them to the free list The taxation Of lux
uries presents no feature OF hardship, but the
necessarios of life used and consumed by all
the people, the duty upon which adds to the
cost of living in every home, should be greatly
cheapened.
The radical reduction OF the duties imposed
on material used in manufactures, or its
free Importation is of course IN important fa;-
tor in any effort to reduce the price OF these
necessaries; it would not only relieve them
from the increased cost caused by the tarid on
such material but the manufactured product,
he ng thus cheapened, that part of the tarin
now laid upon such products ~ compsnsa-
tion To our manufacturers tor the pres snt price